By Stella Ayikoru (Young Leader – PICOT)
Even under normal circumstances where the world isn’t faced by any Global challenges, Young People face numerous Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights challenges such as inadequate SRH information, Low uptake of contraceptives and family planning services, Teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, Drug and substance Abuse, Menstrual Health Management challenges and so forth.
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the world, the challenges affecting young people are only growing bigger by day. The world’s youngest but the largest population is vulnerable and exposed to higher risks of HIV/AIDs infection, Access to contraceptives and other family planning services have been limited since the routine healthcare services attention are being diverted to address the pandemic, Early marriages due to teenage pregnancies are on the rise and because most parents are not working, supporting their young girls with menstrual management materials is proving to be difficult. Given the poor culture of sexuality education at households, young adolescent girls and boys are at greater risk of being involved into unsafe and premature relationships during the lockdown that can negatively impact the future of their health and education.
My experience of COVID-19 as a young person is worrisome because there is so much the world is enduring apparently and as the whole world is fighting against the pandemic that has engulfed us, the measures taken to prevent the spread of the pandemic have made me seem “Jobless”. In fact, There’s a growing anxiety of job security for me and my colleagues. Livelihoods of young people have been affected and the situation seems not to get better anytime soon
However, we, the ‘’Young People” still remain the spot lights anyone can ever look at. Yes, we are the greatest resource the world can ever have in mitigating risks of further spread of the pandemic. We appeal to the national and district task forces of COVID-19 to protect us and find suitable ways to provide and allow us access to SRHS Services! I call upon all parents to spare time to discuss challenges of growing up with their children, do share your experiences, age appropriate information and provide practical skills to your children because information is power. COVID-19 is a nightmare, there’s absolutely nothing good about it and we can only worry of how young people will get through it since they have to grapple with every social, psychological, emotional and economic challenge that come along with it.
Stay home, Stay safe